Where to Drink at Revel Casino in Atlantic City

[Editor's Note: Revel is in preview mode until Memorial Day Weekend 2012, so some of the amenities, venues and specifics listed below may not be immediately available or open. Please call ahead if you are unsure.]

The new Revel casino in Atlantic City is so incredibly large, you can easily become lost inside. Happily, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing — the interior was designed with the theme of “discovery” around every corner. Though there are eleven high-end eateries (four of them from Iron Chef Jose Garces), plus star-studded shows at Ovation Hall, one of the resort’s greatest secrets is that you could spend an entire evening without hitting any of them and still bask in the nightlife.

At the heart of the casino is The Social. Spanning two levels, the venue has a chameleon-like feel: one night it’s host of an intimate performance area and the next it becomes a sporting event hall that seats 400. On most evenings you’ll find a lively, cozy feel from dark wooden accents, rich fabrics, and candlelight. Happy hour runs each night from 5–7 PM, and live music is presented daily from 9 PM–midnight. For those who prefer more secluded lounging but still want to listen in, the upper tier has its own bar and tables and overlooks the main stage. If you’re looking for a shorter respite but a great home base for people-watching, check out Flirt. It’s just as smooth and luxurious as the other two areas, but allows an expansive view of the casino floor.

One is the place to be if you’re looking to enjoy sky-high, sweeping ocean views. Sleek modern furnishings and colorful, Warhol-esque artwork add a funky vibe to the cafe/lounge. There is dining, but the emphasis is on the central bar and the Wednesday–Saturday DJ booth. The adjacent One Away bar allows you a more secluded experience. Signature drinks include the Cucumber Stiletto (Ketel One Citron, St. Germain, fresh lime, cucumber, mint) and the One Night Stand (Ciroc Coconut Vodka, oineapple, fresh sour). If you happen to be there for weekend brunch, you can hit the Bloody Mary bar.

But what if you’d rather be outdoors, drinking under the stars? O2, the indoor/outdoor lounge just off the lobby, is one of the most inspirational places to rev up or wind down an evening. A firepit that is a work of art in itself, modern furnishings and lighting, as well as a vertical garden make it a must-see space.

We haven’t even mentioned the countless nooks and crannies of the resort that contain artistic settings of their own: places to sit and marvel at the wonders of the architecture, play a game of pool, chat with friends or bask in the sun on a terrace overlooking the Sky Garden. But we don’t want to spoil all your fun; the rest is up to you to “discover.”